I looked down, directed visually, and saw the room’s reflection. As clear as the instructions were, I could not help realising that everything I heard was only in my mind. There were no signs. There were no sounds. It felt like I was in an echo of a writer’s observations; “These are the words of the Quester, David’s son and king in Jerusalem: Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.] There’s nothing to anything – it’s all smoke.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 2)
As blunt and potentially cynical as Quester’s point was, there is truth within it. Everything exists within your mind and mine. We are the sum of our memories and dreams. What happens next will be shaped by everything within us as we shape our own stories and contribute to the larger story that we are a part of. As accurate as the observation is, Life’s whispers remind me that Quester’s observation is incomplete.
Life’s meaning comes from the relationships, families, and communities we are a part of. While each story exists within us, it is incomplete and often as much imagination as it is fact. I see and experience things through my perspective. In the end, I am the sum of these experiences. What I often forget and, at times, lose is the awareness of how I contributed to a larger Divine narrative of life and its creation, rebirth, and renewal. The importance of this story is often lost in the threads of my mind.
Life’s pearls and gems are created in the gifts we share. As fleeting and illusive as it is, I hold onto the embrace of one who loves me, the tears of shared sorrow, and the joy of accomplishing something together. Each is a priceless gem that continues to shape who I am and the value I find in life. I am awed by the awareness that I can gift others with these creations. I am humbled by the impact I can have. I am grateful for the pearls entrusted to me by family, friends, and, at times, strangers.
